1941 SAILINGS
(concluded)
WS 10
Sailing
from Avonmouth 30.7.41, Liverpool 31.7 and the Clyde 2.8 the convoy assembled
off Oversay 3.8 in the following formation:
|
11
PHEMIUS
|
21
INDRAPOERA
|
31
ORCADES
(Commodore)
|
41
STRATHALLAN
(Vice Commodore)
|
51
REINA DEL PACIFICO
|
61
WINDSOR CASTLE
|
|
12
DIOMED
|
22
ANDES
|
32
BRITANNIC
|
42
VOLENDAM
|
52
NEA HELLAS
|
62
WARWICK CASTLE
|
|
13
INDIAN PRINCE
|
23
RANGITIKI
|
33
HIGHLAND MONARCH
|
43
CAMERONIA
|
53
STIRLING CASTLE
|
63
NIGERSTROOM
|
|
|
|
34
MANCHESTER PORT
|
|
|
|
WARWICK
CASTLE and WINDSOR CASTLE were in collision 6.8 and the former detached to
Halifax NS escorted by the armed merchant cruiser WARWICKSHIRE.
Escorts
from the UK for varying dates were:
AA
cruiser CAIRO and destroyers WHITEHALL, WINCHELSEA and WITCH 2 to 5.8; armed
merchant cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE and destroyers BROADWAY, GURKHA, ISAAC SWEERS,
LANCE, LEGION and PIORUN 2 to 6.8; cruiser
LONDON as ocean escort relieved on
10.8 by the cruiser EDINBURGH for the remainder of the passage. The destroyer JUPITER
was in company throughout the passage to Freetown from the UK.
Local
Freetown based escorts destroyers VELOX and WRESTLER and corvette BERGAMOT
joined 14.8 and corvette CYCLAMEN 15.8, the convoy arriving at Freetown 17.8.
The
convoy sailed from Freetown 21.8 in the same order as before, but with the Vice
Commodore shifting into BRITANNIC. The local A/S escort is unknown but
certainly included four corvettes; the cruiser EDINBURGH and destroyer JUPITER
accompanied the convoy to Capetown where it arrived 2.9.
The
following ships entered Capetown BRITANNIC, INDRAPOERA, NIGERSTROOM, PHEMIUS,
REINA DEL PACIFICO, STIRLING CASTLE, STRATHALLAN, VOLENDAM and WINDSOR CASTLE,
the remaining ships proceeding to Durban. The escort for this passage was the
cruiser HAWKINS.
In South
Africa the convoy divided, the Indian portion proceeding as WS 10B, while the
ships for Aden, DIOMED, INDIAN PRINCE, INDRAPOERA, MANCHESTER PORT, NEA HELLAS,
NIGERSTROOM, PHEMIUS and VOLENDAM went north under the designation CM 17. MANCHESTER
PORT detached to Mombasa on 15.9, the rest of the convoy dispersed off Aden on
23.9.
WS 10B
Sailing
from Capetown 6.9 under the escort of the armed merchant cruiser CARNARVON
CASTLE a degree of shuffling of ships took place. Initially BRITANNIC,
INDRAPOERA, NIGERSTROOM, PHEMIUS, STIRLING CASTLE, STRATHALLAN, VOLENDAM, and
WINDSOR CASTLE sailed with BRITANNIC detaching independently on 8.9 to enter
Durban and embark passengers from the CAMERONIA and rejoin. From Durban on 9.9
the ARONDA sailed escorted by the cruiser
HAWKINS; on junction with the
Capetown body CARNARVON CASTLE detached escorting INDRAPOERA, NIGERSTROOM,
PHEMIUS and VOLENDAM which accompanied her to Durban. The convoy, now under
escort by HAWKINS was formed as follows:
|
11
STRATHALLAN
|
21
ARONDA
(Commodore)
|
31
BRITANNIC
(Vice Commodore)
|
|
|
22
STIRLING CASTLE
|
32
WINDSOR CASTLE
|
The
cruiser EMERALD relieved HAWKINS on 15.9 in 3.32S 51.12E, and the convoy
arrived at Bombay 20.9.41.
WS 10X
This
small convoy sailed from Avonmouth 14.8.41, Liverpool 15.8 and the Clyde 16.8,
making its juncture late on 16.8:
|
11L
STRATHNAVER
(Vice Commodore)
|
21C
STRATHMORE
(Commodore)
|
31A
ORION
|
|
12L
PALMA
|
22L
BRISBANE STAR
|
32A
PORT JACKSON
|
BRISBANE
STAR lost the convoy 19.8 and did not rejoin until 22.8.
Local
escorts were the Dutch AA cruiser HEEMSKERK and destroyers WHITEHALL and WITCH
from Liverpool 15 to 17.8, destroyers GURKHA, ISAAC SWEERS, LANCE and PIORUN
from the Clyde 17 to 19.8; DORSETSHIRE as ocean escort to Freetown from the
Clyde.
Local
Freetown escort of the destroyers BRILLIANT, VELOX (for one day only) and
WRESTLER and corvettes CLEMATIS and CROCUS joined 27.8 and the convoy arrived
at Freetown 28.8.41.
From
Freetown the convoy sailed on 1.9 in the same cruising order with the
battleship REVENGE as ocean escort. Corvettes AMARANTHUS (to 2.9) and ARMERIA,
MIGNONETTE and WOODRUFF escorted to 3.9.
During
the passage, REVENGE's Officer of the Watch chose to exercise a steering
breakdown while in close company with the convoy; the resultant violent sheer
towards ORION was potentially disastrous but, fortunately, the liner struck the
battleship on the starboard bulge with only minor damage to both ships. Had the
reverse been the case, the loss of ORION would have been almost inevitable with
the possibility of heavy loss of life. The OOW was subsequently court
martialled, and disciplined for having endangered both his ship and the
transport.
Convoy
arrived at Capetown on 11.9, and sailed once more on 14.9, still escorted by
REVENGE, and in the same formation. The battleship was relieved by the cruiser
CERES on 22.9 who took the convoy on to dispersal off Aden on 27.9, thereafter
ships proceeded independently to Suez, arriving at varying dates between 1 and 4.10.41.
WS 11
Sailing
from Bristol Channel ports (Swansea and Newport), Liverpool 30.8.41 and the
Clyde 31.8, the convoy formed off Oversay in the order below:
|
11C
KINA II
|
21C
MOOLTAN
|
31C
ORONTES
(Commodore)
|
41L
OTRANTO
|
51C
CITY OF EDINBURGH
|
|
12S
BHUTAN
|
22L
EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA
|
32C
SCYTHIA
|
42
HMS GUARDIAN
|
52L
GLENORCHY
|
|
13S
BARRISTER
|
23L
NORTHUMBERLAND
(Vice Commodore)
|
33L
VICEROY OF INDIA
|
43L
DUCHESS OF YORK
|
53N
CITY OF MANCHESTER
|
|
14L
GLAUCUS
|
24L
ABOSSO
|
|
44C
LARGS BAY
|
54N
MANCHESTER PROGRESS
|
Escort
locally was provided by the AA cruiser CAIRO and destroyers COSSACK, GARLAND,
HIGHLANDER, ISAAC SWEERS, LEGION, LIVELY, PIORUN, WINCHELSEA and ZULU.
Ocean
escort from sailing comprised the battlecruiser
REPULSE, and destroyers ENCOUNTER
and NESTOR, armed merchant cruiser DERBYSHIRE, sloop SUTLEJ and cutters SENNEN
and TOTLAND. The aircraft carrier FURIOUS (to 4.9) and cruiser
SHEFFIELD (to
2.9) were also present in the initial stage of the passage.
The
convoy split into Fast and Slow portions on 4.9 to proceed separately to
Freetown, the resultant formations being:
WS 11
Fast
|
11
MOOLTAN
|
21
ORONTES
(Commodore)
|
31
LARGS BAY
|
41
CITY OF EDINBURGH
|
|
12
EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA
12
OTRANTO
(same position number
|
22
SCYTHIA
|
32
GLENORCHY
32
HMS GUARDIAN
(same position number)
|
|
|
13
KINA II
|
23
VICEROY OF INDIA
|
33
DUCHESS OF YORK
|
|
|
|
|
34
BHUTAN
|
|
The
revised convoy was escorted by the battlecruiser
REPULSE and destroyers
ENCOUNTER and NESTOR, joined off Freetown by VELOX and WRESTLER and the
corvette STARWORT, arriving at Freetown 13.9.
WS 11
Slow
The slow convoy reformed as shown:
|
11
GLAUCUS
|
21
NORTHUMBERLAND
(ex-Vice Commodore, now Commodore)
|
31
HMS DERBYSHIRE
|
41
CITY OF MANCHESTER
|
|
12
BARRISTER
|
22
ABOSSO
(Master as Vice Commodore)
|
32
RAPIDOL
|
42
MANCHESTER PROGRESS
|
HMS
DERBYSHIRE escorted the slow convoy, leading column 3 of the convoy, which was
joined by the RFA RAPIDOL on 8.9, an early Escort Oiler which joined the convoy
for that purpose and for passage to Freetown. The cutters SENNEN and TOTLAND
and the sloop SUTLEJ accompanied the convoy as A/S escort, and the convoy
arrived at Freetown 15.9.41.
The re‑united
convoy sailed from Freetown 18.9, leaving ABOSSO, HMS GUARDIAN and
NORTHUMBERLAND behind but adding NIEUW ZEELAND to the convoy. Unfortunately, a
sailing order for this leg of the passage is not available.
Local
escort on sailing was the destroyers VELOX and WRESTLER to 20.9, destroyer
ENCOUNTER, sloop SUTLEJ and corvette WOODRUFF to 21.9 and the battlecruiser
REPULSE and armed merchant cruiser DERBYSHIRE; the former went to Durban
arriving 3.10, while DERBYSHIRE took in the Capetown section which arrived
30.9.41.
BHUTAN,
CITY OF EDINBURGH, CITY OF MANCHESTER, DUCHESS OF YORK, GLAUCUS, GLENORCHY,
KINA II, LARGS BAY, NIEUW ZEELAND, ORONTES and VICEROY OF INDIA entered
Capetown.
The
convoy underwent a considerable re‑organisation while in South Africa, so
that on 3.10 the Capetown section sailed in the initial formation shown below:
|
11
GLENORCHY
|
21
ORONTES
(Commodore)
|
31
DUCHESS OF YORK
|
|
12
BHUTAN
|
22
VICEROY OF INDIA
|
32
KINA II
|
|
13
CITY OF MANCHESTER
|
23
LARGS BAY
|
33
GLAUCUS
|
|
14
CITY OF EDINBURGH
|
|
34
NIEUW ZEELAND
|
GLAUCUS
sailed a day late to overtake, having been delayed with a wire round her screw,
but joined the convoy on 5.10.
Escort
was provided by the armed merchant cruiser DERBYSHIRE until the juncture with
the Durban section, when she returned to Capetown.
The
Durban ships, plus those joining at that port, sailed 7.10, and after the
rendezvous on 8.10 the sailing order became:
|
11
DILWARA
|
21
MOOLTAN
|
31
LLANDAFF CASTLE
(Vice Commodore)
|
41
ORONTES
(Commodore)
|
51
GLENORCHY
(Rear Commodore)
|
61
OTRANTO
|
|
12
CITY OF CANTERBURY
|
22
EASTERN PRINCE
|
32
NIEUW HOLLAND
|
42
CITY OF EDINBURGH
|
52
VICEROY OF INDIA
|
62
DUCHESS OF YORK
|
|
13
PULASKI
|
23
MANCHESTER PROGRESS
|
33
CITY OF MANCHESTER
|
43
NIEUW ZEELAND
|
53
LARGS BAY
|
63
KINA II
|
|
|
|
34
BHUTAN
|
44
BARRISTER
|
54
JOHAN DE WITT
|
64
GLAUCUS
|
Escort
was provided by the battlecruiser REPULSE from Durban until 13.10 when the
cruiser CERES relieved her until the convoy dispersed off Aden 19.10.41.
WS 11X
The
following ships detached from the main body of WS 11 on 17.10 in position 10N
52.30E to form WS 11X,
BARRISTER,
(detached independent to Basra on 21.10) CITY OF EDINBURGH, DUCHESS OF YORK,
GLAUCUS, GLENORCHY, JOHAN DE WITT, KINA II, LARGS BAY, NIEUW ZEELAND, ORONTES,
OTRANTO and VICEROY OF INDIA under the escort of the cruiser
GLASGOW, for
Bombay.
CITY OF
EDINBURGH and GLENORCHY detached 19.10 as independents for Basra, the remaining
ships arrived at Bombay 22.10. No sailing plan is available for this leg of the
passage.
From
Bombay, a depleted convoy sailed 27.10 in this formation:
|
11
GLAUCUS
(Vice Commodore)
|
21
ORION
(Commodore)
|
|
|
|
22
NIEUW ZEELAND
|
32
KINA II
|
|
13
JOHAN DE WITT
|
23
LARGS BAY
|
|
The
convoy, escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HECTOR, arrived at Colombo
31.10, less KINA II which detached to Trincomalee 29.10 as an independent.
From
Colombo the convoy, excluding KINA II and plus RANGITIKI in position 12,
escorted by the cruiser MAURITIUS, sailed on 31.10 and arrived in Singapore
6.11.41. ELLENGA joined from Madras as an independent ship 1.11.
WS 11X
IMPORTANT
- Do not confuse this totally separate convoy from the UK to Gibraltar for
Operation Halberd (a relief convoy to Malta) with the previously noted Indian
Ocean detachment from WS 11.
Sailing
from Liverpool 16.9.41 and the Clyde 17.9, this convoy consisted principally of
warships and merchantmen destined for Operation Halberd, a relief convoy for
Malta.
The
following ships sailed:
|
AJAX
HMS BRECONSHIRE (Commodore)
CITY OF CALCUTTA
CITY OF LINCOLN
CLAN FERGUSON
CLAN MACDONALD
DUNEDIN STAR
IMPERIAL STAR
|
LEINSTER
HMS
PRINCESS BEATRIX
HMS
QUEEN EMMA
ROWALLAN
CASTLE
HMS
ROYAL SCOTSMAN
STRATHEDEN
HMS ULSTER MONARCH
|
The
destroyers HARVESTER and HAVELOCK escorted from the Clyde, detaching with
STRATHEDEN to Halifax NS on 19.9 (under the designation CT 3) arriving there
24.9. The remaining escort, to Gibraltar and then Operation Halberd, consisted
of the battleship PRINCE OF WALES, cruisers
EURYALUS and
KENYA, and destroyers
BLANKNEY, GARLAND, ISAAC SWEERS, LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, ORIBI, PIORUN, WHITEHALL
and WITCH.
Force H
sortied from Gibraltar, joined the convoy on 24.9 to the westward and escorted
it during Operation Halberd.
HM Ships
PRINCESS BEATRIX, QUEEN EMMA, ROYAL SCOTSMAN, ULSTER MONARCH and LEINSTER
detached to Gibraltar 25.9.41 and did not join Operation Halberd.
WS 12
The convoy
sailed from Liverpool (9 ships) 29.9.41 and the Clyde (15 ships), and formed
off Oversay on 1.10.41 in the following formation (numbers of personnel
embarked appear in brackets after the ship's name*):
|
11C
CLAN CAMPBELL
|
21C
PERSEUS
|
31C
STRATHAIRD
(3070*)
(Commodore)
|
41C
CITY OF PARIS
(1590*)
|
51L
MENDOZA
(1369*)
|
61C
HMS PRINCE BAUDOUIN
|
|
12C
EMPIRE TRUST
|
22C
ALMANZORA
(2034*)
|
32C
EMPRESS OF RUSSIA
(2544*)
|
42C
ORMONDE
(2464*)
|
52L
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND
(3045*)
(Vice Commodore)
|
62C
HMS ROYAL ULSTERMAN
|
|
13C
HIGHLAND BRIGADE
(1225*)
|
23C
EMPIRE PRIDE
(2015*)
|
33C
EMPRESS OF CANADA
(1968*)
|
43L
SAMARIA
(3062*)
|
53L
DOMINION MONARCH
(1732*)
|
63L
CLAN LAMONT
|
|
14L
SARPEDON
|
24C
LEOPOLDVILLE
(1528*)
|
34C
NARKUNDA
(1836*)
|
44L FRANCONIA
(3094*)
(Rear Commodore)
|
54L
HIGHLAND PRINCESS
|
64L
PERTHSHIRE
|
ROYAL
ULSTERMAN and PRINCE BAUDOUIN detached and fuelled at Ponta Delgada 5 to 10.10.
Local
escort from the Clyde was the destroyers ASSINIBOINE and SAGUENAY, with armed
merchant cruiser CATHAY and minelayer
AGAMEMNON in company, all from 30.9 to
4.10. The destroyer SIKH escorted 30.9 to 5.10, destroyers BADSWORTH, BRADFORD,
BRIGHTON, LANCASTER and NEWARK 1 to 3.10; the AA cruiser
CAIRO and destroyers
VERITY, WHITEHALL and WITCH 1 to 4.10, destroyer BEVERLEY 2 to 3.10 and the
destroyers BLANKNEY and STANLEY 1 to 7.10; destroyer ISAAC SWEERS was present
on 7.10 and GURKHA on 8.10.
The
aircraft carrier ARGUS, ferrying aircraft to Gibraltar, was with the convoy
30.9 to 5.10 and then detached with SIKH; while HIGHLAND PRINCESS detached to
Halifax on 4.10 with AGAMEMNON and CATHAY escorted by ASSINIBOINE and SAGUENAY.
The
cruiser DEVONSHIRE provided ocean escort from 1.10 until relieved on 12.10 by
the cruiser DORSETSHIRE which escorted the convoy to Freetown.
Local
escort from Freetown, destroyers VELOX and WRESTLER joined 11.10 and the convoy
arrived at Freetown 14.10.41.
The
convoy sailed from Freetown 19.10, without the NARKUNDA, but with ULSTER
MONARCH added; Vice Commodore becoming the Master of EMPRESS OF CANADA and the
Rear Commodore in FRANCONIA.
Local
escorts were the destroyers VELOX and WRESTLER and corvettes ANCHUSA, CALENDULA
and MIGNONETTE 19 to 22.10. The cruisers DEVONSHIRE and DORSETSHIRE provided
ocean escort, the former detaching 30.10 and the latter proceeding with the
convoy to Durban, the armed merchant cruiser DERBYSHIRE joined the escort 30.10
and also proceeded with the convoy to Durban.
ROYAL
ULSTERMAN and ULSTER MONARCH detached from the convoy 21.10 to Takoradi, from
where they eventually returned to Freetown and then Gibraltar. PRINCE BAUDOUIN
detached to St Helena, arriving there 24.10, sailing the same day, she made
contact with DERBYSHIRE, and rejoined the convoy with the armed merchant
cruiser on 30.10.
The
convoy divided off Capetown, with CLAN CAMPBELL, DOMINION MONARCH, EMPIRE
PRIDE, EMPIRE TRUST, EMPRESS OF CANADA, PRINCE BAUDOUIN, LEOPOLDVILLE, MENDOZA,
PERTHSHIRE, SARPEDON and STRATHAIRD entering that port on 29.10, the remaining
ships going on to Durban and arriving there 3.11, CITY OF HONGKONG joining en
route on 2.11.
STRATHAIRD
sailed for Durban on 4.11, followed by DOMINION MONARCH, EMPIRE PRIDE, EMPIRE
TRUST, EMPRESS OF CANADA, LEOPOLDVILLE, MENDOZA and PERTHSHIRE from Capetown on
5.11 escorted by the armed merchant cruiser DUNNOTTAR CASTLE, while the Durban
ships (including STRATHAIRD) left harbour on 8.11 to form the convoy shown
below. NIEUW AMSTERDAM and NOVA SCOTIA joined from Durban, ASCANIUS joined from
Mombasa on 14.11. SARPEDON remained at Capetown, HIGHLAND BRIGADE and ORMONDE
remained at Durban:
|
11
SAMARIA
|
21
FRANCONIA
|
31
EMPRESS OF RUSSIA
|
41
STRATHAIRD
|
51
EMPIRE PRIDE
|
61
EMPRESS OF CANADA
|
|
12
CITY OF PARIS
|
22
CLAN LAMONT
|
32
ALMANZORA
|
42
LEOPOLDVILLE
|
52
MENDOZA
|
62
DOMINION MONARCH
|
|
13
NIEUW AMSTERDAM
|
23
CLAN CAMPBELL
|
33
EMPIRE TRUST
|
43
PERTHSHIRE
|
53
PERSEUS
|
63
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND
|
|
|
|
|
44
ASCANIUS
|
54
NOVA SCOTIA
|
|
On
combination of the two sections, the battlecruiser
REPULSE became ocean escort
until 14.11 when she was relieved in 5.10S 34E by the battleship
REVENGE which
took the convoy on to the vicinity of Aden where all ships dispersed on
20.11.41 and proceeded to Suez independently; CITY OF PARIS entered Aden and
grounded in so doing, she sailed 22.11 for Suez as an independent. See below
for previously detached ships.
WS 12J
DOMINION
MONARCH, DUCHESS OF RICHMOND and EMPRESS OF CANADA formed this separate convoy
in 06.05N 52.30E on 17.11, escorted by the cruiser
GLASGOW, arriving Colombo
23.11.41.
WS 12V
From Colombo
DOMINION MONARCH and EMPRESS OF CANADA (Commodore) sailed on 24.11 escorted by
the cruiser GLASGOW for Singapore. In 6.14N 92E on 26.11 the convoy
rendezvoused with the cruiser DRAGON which was escorting AWATEA, the cruisers
then exchanged charges with GLASGOW returning to Colombo with AWATEA and DRAGON
taking on WS 12V to Singapore, arriving there 28.11.41.
WS 12X
This is
quite the most extraordinary convoy of the series, and possibly of the whole
1939‑1945 period. British troops had been embarked in personnel ships in
the UK and took passage to Halifax NS as convoy CT 5, at which port a major
contingent of Canadian troops awaited passage to Britain. The British troops
were therefore transferred to six American transports lying in the port for
onward passage to India and, eventually, to Singapore.
It
should be noted that this transfer took place on 8 and 9.11.41, 30 days BEFORE
the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour on 7.12.41, and the German declaration of
war on the USA on 11.12.41; furthermore all the American transports were
commissioned ships of the United States Navy!
The six
transports were:
|
JOSEPH T DICKMAN (AP 24)
LEONARD WOOD (AP 25)
MOUNT VERNON (AP 22) (Commodore)
|
ORIZABA
(AP 24)
WAKEFIELD
(AP 21)
WEST
POINT (AP 23)
|
Convoy
sailed from Halifax 10.11 and arrived at Port of Spain 17.11 to re‑fuel.
Escort
from Halifax was entirely U S Navy until arrival at Capetown, and consisted of
aircraft
carrier RANGER, cruisers QUINCY and VINCENNES, and destroyers MAYRANT,
MCDOUGALL, MOFFATT, RHIND, ROWAN, TRIPPE, WAINWRIGHT and WINSLOW.
The
convoy sailed from Port of Spain 19.11, being joined then by CIMARRON, and
proceeded direct to Capetown; RANGER and the destroyers RHIND and TRIPPE
detached 27.11 in 17S 20W to return to Trinidad, the convoy proceeded and
arrived at Capetown 9.12.41.
The
convoy sailed from Capetown 13.12 with the cruiser
DORSETSHIRE as ocean escort,
the US destroyers in company as A/S escorts until 14.12. The British Convoy
Commodore had embarked in WEST POINT.
Off
Mombasa on 23.12, MOUNT VERNON detached independently (the cruiser
COLOMBO
having failed to make the rendezvous) to Mombasa, there to remain until sailing
to join convoy DM 1. ORIZABA also left the convoy, on 21.12.41 in 4S 43E, under
the escort of the cruiser CERES, also for Mombasa.
The
remainder of the convoy continued to Bombay under the escort of DORSETSHIRE,
arriving on 27.12.41.
WS 12Z
Sailing
from Liverpool and the Clyde 12.11.41, the convoy formed off Oversay on
13.11.41 as below:
|
11L
ADRASTUS
|
21L
MATAROA
|
31C
NARKUNDA
(Commodore)
|
41L
ORDUNA
|
51C
DEUCALION
|
|
12L
EMPIRE STAR
|
22L
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
(Vice Commodore)
|
32C
AORANGI
32C
EMPRESS OF JAPAN
(same position number)
|
42L
MONARCH OF BERMUDA
|
52C
ABBEKERK
|
|
13L
SUSSEX
|
23L
EMPRESS OF ASIA
|
|
43L
CAPETOWN CASTLE
|
53C
RIMUTAKA
|
|
|
|
34C
ARUNDEL CASTLE
|
|
|
Escort
was provided by the destroyers BADSWORTH, EXMOOR, VANQUISHER, WHITEHALL and
WITCH from 13 to 16.11, MAORI 13 to 17.11. The destroyers FORESIGHT, FORESTER
and FURY joined the convoy 16 to 19.11. The battleship
ROYAL SOVEREIGN
accompanied by the destroyers DULVERTON and SOUTHWOLD escorted from 16 to
24.11.
Approaching
Freetown the destroyers VELOX and VIMY joined 21.11 and the corvette
CLOVER
22.11, the convoy arriving at Freetown 25.11.
The
convoy sailed Freetown 28.11, in a varied sailing order:
|
11
SUSSEX
|
21
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
|
31
NARKUNDA
|
41
MONARCH OF BERMUDA
|
51
DEUCALION
|
|
12
ADRASTUS
|
22
EMPRESS OF ASIA
|
32
EMPRESS OF JAPAN
|
42
CAPETOWN CASTLE
|
52
RIMUTAKA
|
|
13
EMPIRE STAR
|
23
MATAROA
|
33
ARUNDEL CASTLE
|
43
ORDUNA
|
53
ABBEKERK
|
|
|
|
34
AORANGI
|
|
|
The
escort consisted of the destroyers DULVERTON and SOUTHWOLD 28.11 to 14.12,
sloop MILFORD and corvettes HOLLYHOCK and
VERBENA 28.11 to 15.12, corvettes
ASTER and MARGUERITE 15 to 18.12 and the battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN throughout
the passage to Durban where the convoy arrived 18.12.41.
The
convoy sailed from Durban 24.12, with some variations, the sailing plan being:
|
11
ORDUNA
(Vice Commodore)
|
21
CAPETOWN CASTLE
(Commodore)
|
31
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
|
41
NARKUNDA
(Rear Commodore)
|
|
12
ARONDA
|
22
DEUCALION
|
32
EMPRESS OF JAPAN
|
42
AORANGI
|
|
13
EASTERN PRINCE
|
23
ADRASTUS
|
33
INDRAPOERA
|
43
ABBEKERK
|
|
14
NIEUW AMSTERDAM
|
|
34
EMPIRE STAR
|
44
SUSSEX
|
The
battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted the convoy to the vicinity of Mombasa
where, in position 1.26S 48.44E, fresh escorts made a rendezvous and the convoy
separated into three detachments as follows:
WS 12ZA
For
Aden, escorted by the cruiser COLOMBO, were:
|
ARONDA
EASTERN PRINCE
|
NIEUW
AMSTERDAM
ORDUNA
|
off Aden
the ships dispersed independently for Suez on 4.1.42.
WS 12ZB
For
Bombay, escorted by the cruiser CORNWALL, were:
|
ADRASTUS
CAPETOWN CASTLE
DEUCALION
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
|
EMPIRE
STAR
EMPRESS
OF JAPAN
INDRAPOERA
ORIZABA
|
ORIZABA
was brought out from Mombasa by the old cruiser
COLOMBO. The convoy arrived at
Bombay 6.1.42.
Introduction of the DM (Durban Military) Convoys
DM 1
This,
the first use of the designation, stood for "Durban Malaya" and was
the first of a series of three convoys to reinforce the Singapore garrison.
Escorted initially by the cruiser EMERALD, which brought out the transport
MOUNT VERNON from Mombasa, the convoy was made up of:
|
AORANGI
MOUNT VERNON
|
NARKUNDA
SUSSEX
|
Escorted
by EMERALD, a rendezvous was made at the fuelling stop "Port T" (Addu
Atoll) from where the escort was reinforced by the cruisers
DURBAN and
EXETER
and sloop JUMNA from 9.1. The Dutch cruiser DE RUYTER was present on 10.1, and
again 11 to 12.1 while the destroyers ENCOUNTER, JUPITER and VAMPIRE joined
10.1 until the convoy arrived at Singapore on 13.1.42.
WS 14
Sailing
from the Bristol Channel, Liverpool and the Clyde, the convoy assembled off
Oversay on 9.12.41 as follows:
|
11L
TROILUS
|
21C
WARWICK CASTLE
(Rear Commodore)
|
31L
ORESTES
(Vice Commodore)
|
41C
ABOSSO
|
51C
DUCHESS OF ATHOLL
(Commodore)
|
61C
DURBAN CASTLE
|
71A
HIGHLAND PRINCESS
|
81C
EMPIRE
PINTAIL
|
|
12C
CITY OF PRETORIA
|
22C
EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA
|
32C
SCYTHIA
|
42C
ESPERANCE BAY
|
52C
STRATHALLAN
|
62C
ATHLONE CASTLE
|
72A
HIGHLAND MONARCH
|
82C
CLAN
CAMERON
|
|
13C
EMPIRE CURLEW
|
23C
EMPIRE ORIOLE
|
33L
ORONSAY
|
43C
REINA DEL PACIFICO
|
53C
CAMERONIA
|
63C
EMPIRE PEREGRINE
|
73A
EMPIRE EGRET
|
83C
HMS
CILICIA
|
|
|
24C
EMPIRE CONDOR
|
34L
ANDES
|
44L
ORCADES
|
54C
HMS ENGADINE
|
|
74A
EMPIRE WIDGEON
|
|
Escort
was provided as follows:
destroyers
BEVERLEY, CROOME, LANCASTER, NEWARK, SHERWOOD, WESTCOTT and WITHERINGTON and
auxiliary AA ship ULSTER QUEEN 9 to 12.12, FOXHOUND, GURKHA and NESTOR 9 to
13.12, VANQUISHER 13 to 14.12 and VOLUNTEER and WITCH 13 to 15.12. The
battleship
RAMILLIES, and destroyers BADSWORTH and BEAUFORT 13 to 21.12. The
armed merchant cruiser CILICIA was with the convoy throughout the passage to
Freetown.
Local
Freetown escort of the destroyers BRILLIANT and HURWORTH joined 18.12 and
VANSITTART and WILD SWAN 19.12 until the arrival of the convoy at Freetown on
21.12.41.
The
convoy sailed from Freetown 25.12 in a different order:
|
11
EMPIRE PINTAIL
|
21
TROILUS
|
31
ORESTES
(Vice Commodore)
|
41
WARWICK CASTLE
(Rear Commodore)
|
51
DUCHESS OF ATHOLL
(Commodore)
|
61
ORONSAY
|
71
HIGHLAND PRINCESS
|
81
ATHLONE CASTLE
|
|
12
CLAN CAMERON
|
22
EMPIRE PEREGRINE
|
32
EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA
|
42
ORCADES
|
52
STRATHALLAN
|
62
ESPERANCE BAY
|
72
ABOSSO
|
82
DURBAN CASTLE
|
|
13
EMPIRE WIDGEON
|
23
EMPIRE CONDOR
|
33
EMPIRE EGRET
|
43
EMPIRE CURLEW
|
53
CAMERONIA
|
63
SCYTHIA
|
73
REINA DEL PACIFICO
|
83
ANDES
|
|
|
24
CITY OF PRETORIA
|
34
EMPIRE ORIOLE
|
44
HIGHLAND MONARCH
|
|
|
|
|
ABOSSO
detached to Takoradi on 26.12, ORESTES fell out with engine defects 27.12 and
thereafter proceeded independently to Durban, ANDES was sent ahead on 3.1.42 to
Capetown subsequently rejoining the convoy on 5.1.42.
Escort
on sailing was the battleship
RAMILLIES, destroyers BEAUFORT and HURWORTH and
sloop BRIDGEWATER until 4.1.42 off Capetown where they were relieved by the
armed merchant cruiser DERBYSHIRE, while the old cruiser
CERES joined on
6.1.42. The destroyer BRILLIANT also sailed from Freetown and detached with ABOSSO while the destroyer VIMY was present from sailing until 27.12; the
convoy arrived at Capetown 5.1 and Durban 8.1.42.
ANDES,
ATHLONE CASTLE, CAMERONIA, DUCHESS OF ATHOLL, DURBAN CASTLE, ESPERANCE BAY,
HIGHLAND PRINCESS, ORONSAY, REINA DEL PACIFICO, SCYTHIA and STRATHALLAN formed
the Durban contingent.
The
Capetown convoy sailed on 9.1.42 as follows:
|
11
HIGHLAND MONARCH
(Vice Commodore)
|
21
CLAN CAMERON
|
31
WARWICK CASTLE
(Commodore)
|
41
ORCADES
|
51
EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA
|
|
12
EMPIRE EGRET
|
22
EMPIRE ORIOLE
|
32
EMPIRE WIDGEON
|
42
CITY OF PRETORIA
|
52
EMPIRE CONDOR
|
|
13
EMPIRE PINTAIL
|
23
EMPIRE PEREGRINE
|
33
EMPIRE CURLEW
|
43
TROILUS
|
53
MALANCHA
|
Local
escort was provided until 10.1 by the corvettes
HOLLYHOCK and
VERBENA, the
battleship RAMILLIES sailed to the Durban rendezvous.
At the Durban rendezvous on 13.1.42 a considerable re-organisation of the
convoy took place, ORCADES leaving the convoy for Durban and the sailing
positions becoming:
|
11
ORESTES
(Rear Commodore)
|
21
HIGHLAND MONARCH
|
31
NOVA SCOTIA
|
41
DUNERA
(Commodore)
|
51
DILWARA
(Vice Commodore)
|
61
WARWICK CASTLE
|
71
EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA
|
|
12
EMPIRE ORIOLE
|
22
EMPIRE EGRET
|
32
ESPERANCE BAY
|
42
EMPIRE CONDOR
|
52
EMPIRE PEREGRINE
|
62
TROILUS
|
72
CITY OF PRETORIA
|
|
13
EMPIRE PINTAIL
|
23
ANDES
23
THYSVILLE
(same position number)
|
33
CLAN CAMERON
|
43
EMPIRE CURLEW
|
53
EMPIRE WIDGEON
|
63
MALANCHA
|
73
CITY OF CANTERBURY
|
|
|
24
DUCHESS OF ATHOLL
|
|
|
|
|
|
DUCHESS
OF ATHOLL broke down, returned to Durban and transferred her troops to ANDES
which joined the convoy 16.1 taking the position of THYSVILLE which straggled
on the first night out of Durban.
The
cruising order of the convoy was so organised that columns 1 and 2 formed the
Aden detachment, columns 3,4 and 5 (less DUNERA) the Bombay section, and
columns 6 and 7 convoy DM 2 for Singapore.
Escort
from Durban was the battleship RAMILLIES to 20.1, cruisers CERES 16 to 22.1 and
COLOMBO 20 to 22.1.
WS 14A
The
original convoy split into three sub convoys on 19.1, that for Aden being
designated WS 14A and formed from the two port hand columns of the original
convoy. Escorted by the cruiser CERES, the convoy dispersed off Aden 22.1.42.
The straggler THYSVILLE also arrived off Aden in due course.
WS 14B
The
Bombay section was formed from the centre three columns of the original convoy
on 19.1 (excluding DUNERA) and, escorted by the armed merchant cruiser CORFU,
arrived at Bombay 28.1.42. Prior to arrival, on 25.1, CLAN CAMERON, EMPIRE CURLEW,
EMPIRE PEREGRINE and EMPIRE WIDGEON detached as independents for Basra.
DM 2
This
convoy, carrying reinforcements for Singapore, was to make junction in due
course with ships from Bombay in convoy BM 12.
Detaching
from the original WS convoy on 19.1.42 under the escort of the battleship
ROYAL SOVEREIGN, it headed for Addu Atoll where the rendezvous with BM 12 was to take
place on 28.1.42. The sailing order on detachment was as follows:
|
11
TROILUS
|
21
MALANCHA
|
31
DUNERA
(Commodore)
|
41
CITY OF PRETORIA
|
|
12
WARWICK CASTLE
|
22
CITY OF CANTERBURY
|
32
EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA
|
|
On
approaching Addu Atoll 26.1 the convoy's orders were altered and only ROYAL
SOVEREIGN and EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA (the latter short of fuel) entered, EMPRESS
OF AUSTRALIA duly rejoining after fuelling. The convoy was then escorted by the
armed merchant cruiser RANCHI until 28.1, when the convoy made the arranged
rendezvous with BM 12 from Bombay, with
DEVONSHIRE, the Vice Commodore taking
position 13, PLANCIUS 23, EMPRESS OF ASIA 33 and FELIX ROUSSEL 42.
The
escort then consisted of the cruiser EMERALD which was relieved on 31.1. by the
cruisers
DANAE and JAVA joined by the sloops SUTLEJ and YARRA the following
day. The cruiser
EXETER and destroyers JUPITER and VAMPIRE joined on 2.2 and
the whole convoy arrived at Batavia 3.2.42 where the ships which originally
formed BM 12 together with CITY OF CANTERBURY detached under the original
designation for Singapore.
It is
pertinent to note here that this re‑formed BM 12, less EMPRESS OF ASIA
which was bombed and burnt out in the approaches, arrived at Singapore only
days before the surrender to the Japanese, with the consequent loss of all the
troops embarked, many of whom had sailed to Bombay in previous WS convoys.
