1942 Sailings
WS 15
The
convoy sailed from Liverpool (10.1) and the Clyde (11.1), and finally formed up
off Oversay on 12.1.42 in the formation shown below:
|
11C
PORT CHALMERS
|
21L
EMPIRE WOODLARK
|
31
HMS RESOLUTION
|
41C
STRATHMORE
(Commodore)
|
51C
STAFFORDSHIRE
|
61C
AUTOLYCUS
|
71C
PARDO
|
|
12L
MELBOURNE STAR
|
22L
OTRANTO
|
32C
HMS CHESHIRE
|
42C
BRITANNIC
|
52C
VICEROY OF INDIA
|
62C
HNethMS COLOMBIA
|
72C
DORSET
|
|
13L
ELISABETH BAKKE
|
23L
ORONTES
|
33C
HMS ASCANIA
|
43C
LACONIA
|
53C
STRATHNAVER
(Vice Commodore)
|
63C
CHRISTIAAN HUYGENS
|
73C
LLANGIBBY CASTLE
|
|
|
24L
ARAWA
|
34
HNethMS HEEMSKERK
|
44C
STIRLING CASTLE
|
54C
PASTEUR
|
64L
LETITIA
|
74C
AAGTEKERK
|
The A/S
escort force was made up of the destroyers shown below:
VANOC
and WALKER 12 to 15.1, VANQUISHER, VOLUNTEER and WITHERINGTON 12 to 17.1,
ANTHONY 17 to 18.1, GARLAND and NORMAN 17 to 25.1, VANSITTART and VIMY 21 to
25.1.
Ocean
escort, other than as shown above, was provided by the armed merchant cruisers
ASCANIA and CHESHIRE, the Dutch AA cruiser HEEMSKERK and the destroyer BOREAS
from 12 to 25.1, while the battleship
RESOLUTION joined on 17.1 to 25.1, the
convoy arriving at Freetown 25.1.42.
The
first casualty for some time in WS convoys, and the first due to submarine
attack, took place on 16.1 when LLANGIBBY CASTLE was hit right aft by a torpedo
from U 402. She retired damaged to Ponta Delgada from whence, under escort and
accompanied by a tug, she returned to Gibraltar and then to the UK for repairs.
A number
of the warships listed as ocean escort were in fact on passage to the Indian
Ocean for duty; also included was the Turkish destroyer DEMIR HISAR, recently
completed in Britain. She was temporarily commissioned with a British crew for
the delivery passage and operated as part of the escort.
The
convoy sailed from Freetown 29.1 with its formation unchanged, escorted by the
battleship RESOLUTION, armed merchant cruiser CHESHIRE and destroyer DEMIR
HISAR for Capetown off which port it arrived 9.2 when DORSET, ELISABETH BAKKE,
LACONIA, ORONTES and PASTEUR plus the Dutch submarine depot ship COLOMBIA were
detached to enter Capetown under escort of RESOLUTION, arriving 10.2 while the
remainder of the convoy went on to Durban, arriving 13.2, accompanied by the
armed merchant cruisers DUNNOTTAR CASTLE and WORCESTERSHIRE and the sloop
MILFORD.
The five
Capetown ships (ELISABETH BAKKE remained at Capetown) sailed 14.2 escorted by
the armed merchant cruiser CHESHIRE and made their rendezvous with the Durban
contingent (less ARAWA and LETITIA) off that port on 17.2
The
escort from Durban consisted of the cruiser
CERES, and the destroyer NORMAN
with the CHESHIRE from Capetown.
During
the northward passage, a three part division of the convoy took place:
WS 15A
DORSET,
LACONIA, MELBOURNE STAR, ORONTES, OTRANTO, PASTEUR and VICEROY OF INDIA
detached 26.2 escorted to the vicinity of Aden by the cruisers
CERES and
COLOMBO, dispersing off Aden 1.3.42 to proceed independently to Suez.
WS 15B
BRITANNIC,
STIRLING CASTLE and STRATHMORE detached on 26.2 and proceeded to Bombay
escorted by the armed merchant cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE which was joined on 28.2
by the CORFU until 2.3, the convoy arriving at Bombay 4.3.
The
remaining ships of the convoy formed the third reinforcement convoy for
Singapore under the title:
DM 3
This
convoy was composed of the ships shown below, and formed on 22.2:
|
11
PORT CHALMERS
|
21
STRATHNAVER
(Commodore)
|
31
STAFFORDSHIRE
|
|
12
AUTOLYCUS
|
22
EMPIRE WOODLARK
|
32
PARDO
|
|
13
HNethMS COLOMBIA
|
23
CHRISTIAAN HUYGENS
|
33
AAGTEKERK
|
The
convoy was escorted by the battleship
RAMILLIES and the destroyer NORMAN, both
of which joined 22.2.
Singapore
had, of course, surrendered while the Capetown ships were on their way to
Durban; the orders for the convoy were therefore amended prior to the Durban
sailing to proceed to Batavia to bolster the Allied garrison of the East Indies
islands. Even this intention was overtaken by the Japanese advance, and the
convoy was again diverted to Colombo, no doubt to the immense relief of all
onboard.
The
escort left the convoy to fuel at Addu Atoll on 28.2 and rejoined 29.2, on
which day the armed merchant cruiser CORFU also joined the escort.
Orders
were again changed on 2.3, CORFU to detach at once with AAGTEKERK, CHRISTIAAN
HUYGENS, EMPIRE WOODLARK, PORT CHALMERS and STRATHANAVER to proceed to Bombay,
arriving there 6.3.42. RAMILLIES and NORMAN took the remaining ships, of which
STAFFORDSHIRE now became Commodore, to Colombo where they arrived 4.3
WS 16
The next
convoy of the series assembled off Oversay on 17.2.42, having sailed from Liverpool
and the Clyde (on 16.2):
|
11L
DENBIGHSHIRE
|
21L
MONARCH OF BERMUDA
|
31L
DELFTDIJK
|
41C
STRATHEDEN
(Commodore)
|
51C
VOLENDAM
|
61C
POTARO
|
|
12L
CITY OF LINCOLN
|
22L
STRATHAIRD
|
32L
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND
|
42C
NEA HELLAS
(Vice Commodore)
|
52C
DUCHESS OF YORK
|
62C
CITY OF EDINBURGH
|
|
13C
PORT JACKSON
|
23L
AWATEA
|
33L
MOOLTAN
|
43C
EMPIRE PRIDE
|
53C
ORMONDE
|
63C
BRISBANE STAR
(Rear Commodore)
|
|
|
|
34L
SIBAJAK
|
44L
CUBA
|
54C
BERGENSFJORD
|
|
STRATHAIRD
sailed late, delayed with defects, and finally joined the convoy 21.2 under the
escort of cruiser
NEWCASTLE and
destroyer PALADIN. CITY OF EDINBURGH and CITY OF LINCOLN both had
problems with shifting cargo and returned to the Clyde and Liverpool
respectively. POTARO also fell out 18.2 but proceeded to Freetown independently
where she rejoined the convoy.
Escort
from Oversay comprised:
The
battleship
MALAYA, aircraft carrier
EAGLE, cruiser
HERMIONE and destroyers
ACTIVE, ANTHONY, BLANKNEY, CROOME, DUNCAN, FIREDRAKE, LAFOREY and LIGHTNING
from 17 to 21.2, destroyers VERITY, WALKER and WITHERINGTON 17 to 22.2,
aircraft carrier
FORMIDABLE (she was on passage overseas), cruiser
NEWCASTLE
and destroyer PALADIN 21.2 to 1.3, destroyers BOREAS, BRILLIANT and WILD SWAN
26.2 to 1.3.
The carrier
ARGUS also took passage with the
convoy en route to Gibraltar with fighter aircraft for the reinforcement of
Malta.
The
convoy arrived at Freetown 1.3.42.
The
convoy sailed from Freetown, its merchant ship composition unchanged, on 6.3
escorted locally by the corvette NIGELLA for one day, the destroyers BRILLIANT
and WILD SWAN to 8.3, the corvette JASMINE until 12.3 and the sloop BRIDGEWATER
to 18.3. The cruiser NEWCASTLE provided the major escort until 17.3, the date
on which the convoy split off Capetown, when the armed merchant cruisers
CHESHIRE and DUNNOTTAR CASTLE and the sloop MILFORD joined.
BERGENSFJORD,
BRISBANE STAR, DELFTDIJK, DENBIGHSHIRE, NEA HELLAS, PORT JACKSON, POTARO and
SIBAJAK entered Capetown under the local escort of the corvettes FREESIA and
FRITILLARY. The remaining merchant ships went on to Durban escorted by the
armed merchant cruisers CHESHIRE, DUNNOTTAR CASTLE and WORCESTERSHIRE (which
relieved MILFORD on 17.3), arriving at Durban 21.3.
The
Capetown ships sailed on 22.3, escorted by the cruiser
NEWCASTLE and the sloop
MILFORD, and met the Durban vessels, excluding MONARCH OF BERMIDA, MOOLTAN and
STRATHAIRD which remained in port, off Durban on 25.3. The convoy, its escort
reinforced by the cruiser GLASGOW and armed merchant cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE
from Durban, proceeded northward; NEWCASTLE detached at midnight on 25.3. On
1.4 the cruiser
COLOMBO and armed merchant cruiser ALAUNIA relieved the escort
and on 3.4 the convoy divided into the Aden and Bombay portions.
The
combined convoy steamed in the following formation:
|
11
NEA HELLAS
(Vice Commodore)
|
21
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND
|
31
STRATHEDEN
(Commodore)
|
41
EMPIRE PRIDE
|
51
BRISBANE STAR
(Rear Commodore)
|
|
12
BERGENSFJORD
|
22
DUCHESS OF YORK
|
32
AWATEA
|
42
PORT JACKSON
|
52
DENBIGHSHIRE
|
|
13
VOLENDAM
|
|
33
SIBAJAK
|
43
DELFTDIJK
|
53
POTARO
|
Commodore
ships remained as previously.
WS 16A
BERGENSFJORD, NEA HELLAS and VOLENDAM formed
the Aden convoy escorted by
COLOMBO from the splitting position on 3.4 until
dispersed off Aden 6.4.42 after which the ships went to Suez as independents.
WS 16B
The
Bombay detacchment steamed in the following order from 3.4.
|
11
POTARO
|
21
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND
|
31
STRATHEDEN
|
41
EMPIRE PRIDE
|
51
BRISBANE STAR
|
|
12
DELFTDIJK
|
22
DUCHESS OF YORK
|
32
AWATEA
|
42
PORT JACKSON
|
52
DENBIGHSHIRE
|
|
|
|
33
SIBAJAK
|
|
|
escorted
by ALAUNIA and WORCESTERSHIRE (which joined at the splitting position) and duly
arrived at Bombay 8.4.42.
WS 17
The
convoy assembled off Oversay 23.3.42 in the following formation, final
departure being made from Liverpool and the Clyde:
|
11C
GLAUCUS
|
21C
LEOPOLDVILLE
|
31C
ABOSSO
(Vice
Commodore)
|
41C
TAMAROA
|
51C
FRANCONIA
(Commodore)
|
61C
ALMANZORA
|
71C
MATAROA
|
81C
LARGS
BAY
|
|
12C
PORT
WYNDHAM
|
22C
SAMARIA
|
32L
EMPRESS
OF RUSSIA
|
42L
DUCHESS
OF ATHOLL
|
52C
ORION
|
62C
CAMERONIA
|
72C
SOBIESKI
|
82C
BHUTAN
82C
REMBRANDT
(same
position number)
|
|
13C
KINA
II
|
23C
JOHAN
VAN OLDENBARNEVELT
|
33L
ORONSAY
|
43L
DOMINION
MONARCH
|
53C
WINDSOR
CASTLE
|
63C
HMS
KARANJA
|
73C
HMS
ADAMANT
|
|
|
14C
DUNEDIN
STAR
|
24C
CITY
OF LINCOLN
|
34L
ARUNDEL
CASTLE
|
44C
WINCHESTER
CASTLE
|
54C
NIEUW
HOLLAND
|
64C
HMS
KEREN
|
74C
CLAN MACDONALD
|
84C
CITY
OF EDINBURGH
|
Escorts
during the passage were:
destroyers
NEWPORT 23 to 25.3, BADSWORTH, BEVERLEY, KEPPEL, LEAMINGTON and VOLUNTEER 23 to
27.3, ANTELOPE 23 to 29.3, BOADICEA and ROCKINGHAM 23 to 30.3, aircraft carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS, destroyers INCONSTANT, JAVELIN and PACKENHAM 23 to 31.3, cruiser
SHROPSHIRE, armed merchant cruiser ALCANTARA and destroyers ALDENHAM, GROVE and
LOOKOUT 24.3 to 6.4, destroyers ACTIVE, ANTHONY and WILD SWAN and corvettes
COMMANDANT DETROYAT and HYDRANGEA 1 to 6.4.
BEVERLEY
and NEWPORT were in collision 25.3, the latter returning to harbour.
WS 17
then split into two sections for the further passage to South Africa.
WS 17A
This
convoy sailed from Freetown 9.4.42 made up of:
|
BHUTAN
CLAN MACDONALD
DOMINION MONARCH
DUCHESS OF ATHOLL
HMS KARANJA
HMS KEREN
LARGS BAY
|
ORONSAY
PORT
WYNDHAM
REMBRANDT
SOBIESKI
WINCHESTER
CASTLE
WINDSOR
CASTLE
|
The
formation of the convoy is unknown but it was escorted by the battleship
MALAYA, cruiser
HERMIONE and destroyers ACTIVE, ANTHONY, INCONSTANT, JAVELIN, LAFOREY, LOOKOUT, LIGHTNING and PACKENHAM, and arrived at Capetown 18.4, with
the Durban ships arriving 22.4.
WS 17B
This
convoy sailed from Freetown two days after WS 17A, on 11.4, and here the
formation is known:
|
11
ABOSSO
(Vice Commodore)
|
21
TAMAROA
|
31
GLAUCUS
|
41
FRANCONIA
(Commodore)
|
51
MATAROA
|
61
ALMANZORA
|
|
12
KINA II
|
22
SAMARIA
(Rear Commodore)
|
32
LEOPOLDVILLE
|
42
ORION
|
52
CAMERONIA
|
62
CITY OF EDINBURGH
|
|
13
DUNEDIN STAR
|
23
EMPRESS OF RUSSIA
|
33
JOHAN VAN OLDENBARNEVELT
|
43
NIEUW HOLLAND
|
53
ARUNDEL CASTLE
|
63
CITY OF LINCOLN
|
|
|
|
|
HMS ADAMANT
(between cols 4 & 5)
|
|
Local
escort was provided by the destroyers CROOME and WILD SWAN and corvettes
COMMANDANT DROGOU and HYDRANGEA 11 to 14.4 and destroyer EXMOOR and corvette
COMMANDANT DETROYAT 11 to 15.4.
The
cruiser
SHROPSHIRE provided the ocean escort and, with HMS ADAMANT, occupied a
position between columns 4 and 5 of the convoy. The sloop MILFORD escorted from
18.4 until arrival of the convoy at Capetown 23.4.
All
ships entered Capetown except EMPRESS OF RUSSIA, FRANCONIA and MATAROA which
went on to Durban arriving there 26.4.
WS 17
Once
again under its original designation, the convoy sailed from Capetown 27.4 and
from Durban 1.5 to be joined by new ships from Port Elizabeth (the American
BRAZIL, MORMACTIDE and MONTEREY). After the final rendezvous the convoy was
formed as below. Numbers are suffixed C, D and P to indicate South African ports
from which the ships sailed:
|
11C
ALMANZORA
|
21C
SAMARIA
|
31C
GLAUCUS
|
41D
WINDSOR CASTLE
(Commodore)
|
51C
JOHAN VAN OLDENBARNEVELT
|
61P
BRAZIL
|
|
12D
NOVA SCOTIA
|
22C
CAMERONIA
|
32C
CITY OF LINCOLN
|
42C
KINA II
|
52D
ELISABETHVILLE
|
62P
MONTEREY
|
|
13D
KHEDIVE ISMAIL
|
23D
MENDOZA
|
33C
CITY OF EDINBURGH
|
43C
DUNEDIN STAR
|
53C
NIEUW HOLLAND
|
63P
MORMACTIDE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
64
CLAN MACDONALD
|
ADAMANT
sailed with the convoy, probably between columns 3 and 4 a position also
occupied by the ocean escort, the battleship
REVENGE which sailed from Durban.
The escort for the Capetown to Durban passage was the cruiser
DAUNTLESS which
continued with the convoy.
Off
Mombasa on 7.5 ADAMANT detached independently for Mombasa, on 8.5 REVENGE and
DAUNTLESS also did so, taking in to that port ALMANZORA, CAMERONIA, KHEDIVE
ISMAIL, MENDOZA, NOVA SCOTIA and SAMARIA, ie the two port hand columns.
The
battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN and armed merchant cruiser CORFU took over the
convoy until 11.5.42 when, in 05.30N 50.02E it again divided with:
WS 17A
CITY OF
EDINBURGH, CITY OF LINCOLN, ELISABETHVILLE and GLAUCUS being escorted by CORFU
to Aden to disperse on 14.5.42.
WS 17B
BRAZIL,
CLAN MACDONALD, DUNEDIN STAR, JOHAN VAN OLDENBARNEVELT, KINA II, MORMACTIDE,
MONTEREY, NIEUW HOLLAND and WINDSOR CASTLE detached as the Bombay convoy
escorted by
ROYAL SOVEREIGN and arrived at Bombay 16.5.42, less MONTEREY which
detached as an independent for Abadan and BRAZIL, MORMACTIDE and MONTEREY for
Karachi, detaching on 13.5.
WS 17BZ
A final
passage under the WS 17 code was made when, on 10.5.42, a convoy sailed from
Mombasa composed of:
|
11
MENDOZA
|
21
SAMARIA
|
31
ALMANZORA
|
41
CAMERONIA
|
|
12
CHANTILLY
|
|
32
NOVA SCOTIA
|
42
KHEDIVE ISMAIL
|
escorted
by the armed merchant cruiser RANCHI to Bombay, arriving there 19.5.42, except
for CHANTILLY and MENDOZA which detached as independents from position 09.40N
52.15E on 14.5.
WS 18
Sailing
from the Clyde 15.4.42, the convoy comprised the following ships:
|
11L
PHEMIUS
|
21C
ORDUNA
|
31C
RANGITATA
|
41C
EMPRESS OF CANADA
(Commodore)
|
51
HMS HECLA
|
61C
ORBITA
|
|
12L
CLAN LAMONT
|
22L
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
(Vice Commodore)
|
32C
REINA DEL PACIFICO
|
42C
MALOJA
|
52C
AORANGI
|
62C
CITY OF CAPETOWN
|
|
13C
SOUDAN
|
23L
CAPETOWN CASTLE
|
33C
EMPRESS OF JAPAN
|
43C
HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN
|
53L
NIEUW ZEELAND
|
63C
WAIPAWA
|
|
24L
DEMPO
|
|
34L
MARNIX VAN ST ALDEGONDE
|
44C
HIGHLAND PRINCESS
|
|
|
The
escort was formed from
destroyers
BADSWORTH, GEORGETOWN, LANCASTER, LAUDERDALE and ST MARYS 15 to 19.4; BOADICEA
and VOLUNTEER 15 to 20.4 and SALISBURY 15 to 22.4.
Ocean
escort was the cruisers
FROBISHER and
GAMBIA and destroyers TETCOTT and VAN
GALEN 15 to 29.4. Local escort off Freetown was provided by the destroyers
BOREAS and WILD SWAN and corvette PETUNIA 26 to 29.4.
The
convoy arrived at Freetown 29.4.1942
Sailing
from Freetown 3.5, convoy composition was as from the UK plus RIMUTAKA. The
American AGWILEON joined at sea later being detached to Walvis Bay 6.5.
Escorts
were the destroyers BOREAS and WIVERN 3 to 4.5, the cruiser FROBISHER and destroyer
VAN GALEN 3 to 6.5 and the corvette HYDRANGEA 4 to 5.5. Ocean escort was the
cruiser GAMBIA, seaplane carrier
ALBATROSS and destroyer TETCOTT 3 to 15.5. Off
Capetown the whalers SOUTHERN GEM and SOUTHERN PRIDE joined on 14.5 as local
escort to Capetown.
The
convoy arrived off Capetown 15.5 and, while crossing the shallow waters of the
Agulhas Bank between Capetown and Durban, encountered a minefield laid by the
raider DOGGERBANK. As a result HMS HECLA was damaged and towed in to Simonstown
by the cruiser GAMBIA, while the freighter SOUDAN, also mined, sank later that
day.
SOUDAN
was fortunate in suffering no casualties: her Master reported that on examining
his ship after the explosion he found "No 2 Hold empty, the bottom having
apparently been blown out and the stores loaded in that hold having fallen out
of the hole. This was fortunate as the stores included 400 tons of
TNT....".
Ships
which arrived at Capetown were DEMPO, EMPRESS OF CANADA, MARNIX VAN ST
ALDEGONDE, NIEUW ZEELAND, ORBITA, ORDUNA, PHEMIUS, REINA DEL PACIFICO, RIMUTAKA
and WAIPAWA, while the remaining ships went on to Durban where they arrived
18.5 being escorted from Capetown by the cruiser CARLISLE.
There
was considerable re‑organisation during the South African lay over, some
ships unloading and returning in due course to the UK, and some, such as the
two HIGHLANDs and AORANGI going on as independents to the Plate. Those that did
sail as part of the convoy left Capetown 19.5 escorted by the armed merchant
cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE and rendezvoused off Durban to proceed northwards, C and
D suffix to the convoy position numbers indicate the port of departure. The
convoy from the Durban rendezvous, numbers are suffixed C and D to indicate
sailing port, sailed from Capetown 19.5 and Durban 22.5 and comprised:
|
11C
PHEMIUS
|
21C
EMPRESS OF CANADA
(Vice Commodore)
|
31C
REINA DEL PACIFICO
(Commodore)
|
41D
CAPETOWN CASTLE
|
|
12C
ORBITA
|
22C
MARNIX VAN ST ALDEGONDE
22C
ORDUNA
|
32C
DEMPO
|
42D
CLAN LAMONT
|
|
13C
WAIPAWA
(Rear Commodore)
|
|
33C
NIEUW ZEELAND
|
43D
CITY OF CAPETOWN
|
|
14C
BULKOIL
|
|
34D
EMPIRE WOODLARK
|
44D
LLANDAFF CASTLE
|
PHEMIUS
returned to Capetown 19.5 and did not rejoin the convoy until 27.5; on 22.5
EMPRESS OF CANADA, MARNIX VAN ST ALDEGONDE and NIEUW ZEELAND detached, ORDUNA
becoming Commodore. REINA DEL PACIFICO detached on 23.5.
The
Durban detachment joined on 23.5, MARNIX VAN ST ALDEGONDE and NIEUW ZEELAND
rejoined 24.5. LLANDAFF CASTLE detached 27.5 and EMPIRE WOODLARK 30.5.
The
final split of the convoy took place on 2.6 when the port hand column (see
below) detached to Aden with the remaining ships going on to Bombay where they
arrived 7.6.
The
combined convoy from 30.5 comprised:
|
11
WAIPAWA
|
21
ORBITA
|
31
ORDUNA
|
41
CAPETOWN CASTLE
|
|
12
PHEMIUS
|
22
MARNIX VAN ST ALDEGONDE
|
32
DEMPO
|
42
CLAN LAMONT
|
|
13
BULKOIL
|
|
33
NIEUW ZEELAND
|
43
CITY OF CAPETOWN
|
the port
hand column, BULKOIL, PHEMIUS and WAIPAWA, being the Aden detachment.
The
escort from Capetown was the cruiser
FROBISHER and seaplane carrier
ALBATROSS,
the latter detaching 23.5 and rejoining 24.5; the battleship
RESOLUTION joined
from Durban 23.5. FROBISHER detached 27.5 escorting LLANDAFF CASTLE, and on 30
May the cruisers
EMERALD and
ENTERPRISE relieved the battleship and seaplane
carrier, who proceeded escorting EMPIRE WOODLARK. EMERALD was relieved by the
armed merchant cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE on 31.5. WORCESTERSHIRE took the Aden
portion on to its dispersal point, while ENTERPRISE continued as escort to the
Bombay section, the convoy dividing on 2.6 with the Bombay section arriving
7.6.
WS 19
This
convoy assembled off Oversay 10.5.42 in the following formation:
|
11L
LANARKSHIRE
|
21L
MONARCH OF BERMUDA
|
31L
MORETON BAY
|
41C
STRATHNAVER
(Commodore)
|
51C
MOOLTAN
|
61A
AKAROA
|
|
12L
CLAN MACARTHUR
|
22L
ORMONDE
|
32L
SCYTHIA
|
42C
STRATHAIRD
|
52C
ORIZABA
(Vice Commodore)
|
62A
HIGHLAND MONARCH
|
|
|
23L
HIGHLAND BRIGADE
|
33L
ATHLONE CASTLE
(Rear Commodore)
|
43C
PASTEUR
|
53C
BORINQUEN
|
63C
SUSSEX
|
AKAROA
detached as an independent for Bermuda 14.5.
the
escort comprised:
destroyers
KEPPEL, LEAMINGTON and VOLUNTEER 10 to 13.5, ST MARYS 10 to 15.5 and CASTLETON
10 to 16.5.
The
cruiser
MAURITIUS, armed merchant cruiser CARNARVON CASTLE and destroyers
BELVOIR and HURSLEY escorted 11 to 22.5 while a local escort of the destroyers VELOX on 19.5 and BOREAS and WILD SWAN on 20.5 joined from Freetown, where the
convoy arrived on 22.5.42.
Unusually,
while still an HM ship, CARNARVON CASTLE had 1044 troops embarked for passage.
The
convoy sailed from Freetown 26.5 escorted by the destroyers BOREAS and VELOX to
28.5, the armed merchant cruiser ALCANTARA 26 to 29.5, destroyer BELVOIR 26 to
31.5 while the cruiser MAURITIUS, destroyer HURSLEY and sloop MILFORD covered
the whole passage from Freetown to Capetown where they convoy arrived 5.6.42.
The cruiser
SHROPSHIRE joined off Capetown to escort the Durban ships to that
port where they arrived 9.6.42. HIGHLAND BRIGADE, which proceeded to the Plate,
detached from the convoy 28.5 to go to Takoradi where she arrived 31.5 later
proceeding to South America.
CLAN
MACARTHUR, MORETON BAY, ORIZABA, ORMONDE, PASTEUR and STRATHAIRD went on to
Durban, remaining ships entered Capetown.
On 11.6:
|
ATHLONE CASTLE (Vice Commodore)
BORINQUEN
LANARKSHIRE
MONARCH OF BERMUDA
|
MOOLTAN
STRATHNAVER
(Commodore)
SUSSEX
TAKLIWA
|
sailed
from Capetown and were joined off Durban 15.6 by the ships from that port plus
EMPIRE TROOPER, sailing that day. Armed merchant cruiser CHESHIRE escorted from
the Cape to Durban joined by the cruiser SHROPSHIRE on 12.6. Destroyers BELVOIR
and HURSLEY joined on 14.6 and the cruiser
EMERALD brought out the Durban
section.
SHROPSHIRE
remained with the convoy to 18.6 when she was replaced by the cruiser
MAURITIUS, in her turn relieved by the cruiser
DEVONSHIRE on 26.6 to 27.6 when
the armed merchant cruiser CORFU took over until 30.6 when the convoy arrived
at Aden. EMERALD and the destroyers BELVOIR and HURSLEY detached 23.6 to go to
Mombasa.
ATHLONE
CASTLE, ORIZABA and STRATHAIRD detached on 27.6 for Bombay where they arrived
1.7.42; escorted by the cruiser DEVONSHIRE.
WS 19P
As is
the case with many convoys, the reason for repeating a convoy number albeit
with an alpha suffix, was no doubt well known at the time and probably recorded
in signals; however no information has survived the years and the reason
remains a mystery. The convoy sailed from Liverpool 31.5 and the Clyde 1.6.42
as shown below:
|
11L
POELAU ROEBIAH
|
21L
CHRISTIAAN HUYGENS
|
31C
ARAWA
|
41C
ORCADES
(Commodore)
|
51C
STAFFORDSHIRE
|
61L
TALISSE
|
|
12C
MEXICO
|
22L
LACONIA
|
32C
VICEROY OF INDIA
(Vice Commodore)
|
42C BRITANNIC
|
52C
CATHAY
|
62C
J W MCANDREW
|
|
13L
NEW ZEALAND STAR
|
23L
ORONTES
|
33C
STRATHALLAN
|
43C
AQUITANIA
|
53C
OTRANTO
|
63C
CRISTOBAL
|
|
|
24L
SANTA ROSA
|
34L
ANDES
|
44C
WARWICK CASTLE
|
54C
SANTA ELENA
|
64C
JAVA
|
AQUITANIA
detached independently on 7.6 under the designation WS 19Q.
The
escorts were:
destroyers
BUXTON, MANSFIELD and SALISBURY to 1.6, KEPPEL, LEAMINGTON and WELLS to 4.6 and
BEAGLE and DOUGLAS to 6.6. Battleship
NELSON accompanied the convoy to
Freetown, detaching en route to arrive there 13.6. The aircraft carrier
ARGUS,
ferrying aircraft to Gibraltar, was with the convoy until detaching 5.6, and
the destroyers BLACKMORE and DERWENT were with the convoy throughout and were
joined by VELOX on 11.6 from Freetown where the convoy arrived on 15.6.42.
The
convoy sailed from Freetown 19.6 in an amended formation, shown below, with
some additional ships:
|
11
NEW ZEALAND STAR
|
21
STRATHALLAN
(Vice Commodore)
|
31
ORONTES
|
41
ORCADES
(Commodore)
|
51
ANDES
|
61
CHRISTIAAN HUYGENS
|
71
CRISTOBAL
|
|
12
MEXICO
|
22
LACONIA
|
32
MARIPOSA
|
42
BRITANNIC
|
52
OTRANTO
|
62
SANTA PAULA
|
72
TALISSE
|
|
13
JAVA
|
23
SANTA ROSA
|
33
J W McANDREW
|
43
WARWICK CASTLE
|
53
CHATEAU THIERRY
|
63
VICEROY OF INDIA
(Rear Commodore)
|
73
POELAU ROEBIAH
|
|
|
24
CATHAY
|
34
SANTA ELENA
|
44
STAFFORDSHIRE
|
54
ARAWA
|
|
|
The
battleship NELSON occupied a position between columns 41 and 51 of the convoy.
Escort
from Freetown, in addition to NELSON included the battleship
RODNEY and the
destroyers DERWENT, PATHFINDER, PENN and QUENTIN to 26.6 plus VELOX to 22.6
only. The cruiser
SHROPSHIRE joined as escort when the battleships detached,
and the convoy arrived Capetown 1 and Durban 4.7.42. CATHAY, J W McANDREW,
JAVA, LACONIA, MARIPOSA, MEXICO, NEW ZEALAND STAR, ORONTES, SANTA ELENA, SANTA
ROSA, STAFFORDSHIRE and STRATHALLAN entering Capetown.
WS 19L
Further
changes in the convoy formation took place in South Africa, with the faster
ships sailing under the above designation from Capetown on 4 and Durban on
7.7.42. After rendezvous, their formation was:
|
11
WARWICK CASTLE
|
21
VICEROY OF INDIA
(Commodore)
|
31
ORONTES
|
41
STRATHALLAN
|
|
12
SANTA ELENA
|
22
SANTA ROSA
|
32
MEXICO
|
42
LACONIA
|
|
|
23
J W McANDREW
|
33
CRISTOBAL
|
|
LACONIA,
too slow to maintain the required convoy speed, was detached 11.7 and ordered
to join WS 19P. WARWICK CASTLE was detached on 13.7, under the escort of the
cruiser CALEDON, to go to Mombasa.
Escort
from Durban was the cruiser
MAURITIUS, joined on 8.7 by the Dutch cruiser HEEMSKERK, this ship was detached later that day to join the slow convoy WS
19P. The cruiser
DEVONSHIRE relieved MAURITIUS 14.7 who escorted until the
convoy arrived at Aden on 17.7.
WS 19P
The
remaining ships from Capetown and Durban, also sailing on 4 and 8.7, formed the
slow convoy at a rendezvous off Durban on 8.7, under the original designation
and steamed in the following order:
|
11
CHATEAU THIERRY
|
21
CHRISTIAAN HUYGENS
|
31
OTRANTO
|
41
CATHAY
|
|
12
NEW ZEALAND STAR
|
22
TALISSE
|
32
SANTA PAULA
|
42
STAFFORDSHIRE
|
|
13
POELAU ROEBIAH
|
23
MARIPOSA
|
33
JAVA
|
|
Escort
was provided by the the Dutch cruiser HEEMSKERK and armed merchant cruiser
CHITRAL, CARNARVON CASTLE was also present 8 to 9.7. The cruiser
ENTERPRISE
joined on 16.7 and HEEMSKERK detached 17.7 on which day the convoy divided.
LACONIA,
detached as too slow from WS 19L, joined the convoy on 12.7, position unknown
but possibly 43.
WS 19PB
CATHAY,
JAVA, MARIPOSA, OTRANTO, SANTA PAULA and STAFFORDSHIRE were detached on 17.7
for Bombay under this designation, escorted by the cruiser
ENTERPRISE, arriving
23.7.42.
MARIPOSA
and SANTA PAULA detaching 21.7 to Karachi as independents.
WS 19PA
The balance
of the ships in WS 19P proceeded to Aden under this title, off which port they
dispersed on 20.7.42 and sailed as independents to Suez where they arrived
23.7.42.
WS 19W
Not
strictly a convoy as the single ship was not escorted except for the first 24
hours, nevertheless this convoy code was used; some signals show it also as WS
19A. The single ship was the QUEEN MARY which cleared the Clyde 23.5.42, called
at Freetown 30‑31.5, arrived Capetown 6.6 sailing again 10.6 and arrived
at Suez 22.6.42. Her return passage was via Capetown and Rio de Janeiro to New
York.
Escort
was confined to the Western Approaches and comprised the AA cruiser
CAIRO and
destroyers BEAGLE, DOUGLAS, KEPPEL and SARDONYX for the day of sailing only.
WS 19Z
No connection
whatever with the other convoys of this numeration, this convoy was made up of
the ships from the UK for Operation HARPOON, a relief convoy to Malta. Leaving
the Clyde 5.6.42, the merchant ships were BURDWAN, CHANT, ORARI, TANIMBAR and
TROILUS escorted by the cruisers
KENYA,
LIVERPOOL and destroyers BADSWORTH,
BEDOUIN, BLANKNEY, ESCAPADE, ICARUS, KUJAWIAK, MARNE, MATCHLESS, MIDDLETON and
ONSLOW. The convoy passed through the Straits of Gibraltar 12.6.42 and
thereafter is recorded as Operation HARPOON.
WS 19Q
Another
single ship convoy, AQUITANIA detached from the original WS 19P to proceed
independently, called at Freetown 11.6 and arrived at Simonstown 20.6. Sailing
22.6 she called at Diego Suarez 30.6, Aden 3.7 and arrived at Suez 8.7.42. Her
return passage was made via Diego Suarez, Capetown and Freetown to Boston for
docking.
WS 19Y
The
final single ship convoy of the WS 19 sequence, QUEEN ELIZABETH cleared the
Clyde 17.6.42 escorted by the AA cruiser
DELHI and destroyers BOADICEA, KEPPEL, LEAMINGTON, SALISBURY and ST ALBANS for that day only. Thereafter she steamed
independently, calling at Freetown 25.6, Simonstown 4.7 and arriving at Suez
18.7.42. Her return passage to New York was made via Capetown and Rio de
Janeiro.
WS 20
Convoy
sailed from Liverpool 20.6.42 and the Clyde 21.6 to a rendezvous off Oversay on
21.6 when the convoy formation became:
|
11
ABOSSO
|
21
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND
|
31
EMPRESS OF RUSSIA
|
41
STRATHEDEN
(Commodore)
|
51
BANFORA
|
61
ESPERANCE BAY
|
|
|
12
DURBAN CASTLE
|
22
ORION
(Vice Commodore)
|
32
EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA
|
42
BERGENSFJORD
|
52
AWATEA
52
LEOPOLDVILLE
(same position number
|
|
72
CUBA
|
|
13
PALMA
|
23
STIRLING CASTLE
|
33
STRATHMORE
|
43
ADRASTUS
43
BATORY
(same position number)
|
53
ARUNDEL CASTLE
53
NARKUNDA
(same position number0
|
|
73
EMPIRE PRIDE
|
|
|
|
|
44
NIGERSTROOM
|
|
|
|
NIGERSTROOM
returned to the Clyde with defects, and ARKUNDA detached to Gibraltar 28.6.
AWATEA, which was using automatic steering, and EMPIRE PRIDE collided 28.6 but
remained with the convoy.
Local
escort was provided by the destroyers GEORGETOWN and SALISBURY 21 to 24.6,
BOADICEA and RIPLEY to 25.6, BEAGLE, ST ALBANS, VIDETTE and WOLVERINE to 26.6
and VANSITTART to 27.6; while the local Freetown escort was BLACKMORE and
BRILLIANT from 26.6, VIMY from 28.6 and BOREAS, VELOX and WIVERN from 30.6. The
convoy arrived at Freetown 2.7.42
The
destroyer WISHART joined the convoy 26.6 to detach NARKUNDA to Gibraltar also
accompanied by ANTELOPE, BEAGLE, VIDETTE and WOLVERINE.
Ocean
escort was provided by the battleship
MALAYA and destroyer ANTELOPE from 26.6
to 2.7, the battleship occupying a position between columns 3 and 4.
The
convoy sailed from Freetown 6.7.42 with a slight variation in positions,
possibly the formation adopted after the departure of ships referred to in the
earlier part of the narrative:
|
11
ABOSSO
|
21
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND
|
31
EMPRESS OF RUSSIA
|
41
STRATHEDEN
|
51
BANFORA
|
61
ARUNDEL CASTLE
|
|
12
DURBAN CASTLE
|
22
ORION
|
32
EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA
|
42
BERGENSFJORD
|
52
AWATEA
52
LEOPOLDVILLE
(same position number)
|
|
|
13
PALMA
|
23
STIRLING CASTLE
|
33
STRATHMORE
|
43
ADRASTUS
|
53
EMPIRE PRIDE
|
63
ESPERANCE BAY
|
|
|
|
34
CUBA
|
44
BATORY
|
|
|
Local
escort was provided by the destroyers BOREAS and VELOX, both detached 8.7, the
latter to take BATORY in to Takoradi. Ocean escort comprised the battleship
MALAYA and destroyers BLACKMORE, BRILLIANT and WIVERN to Capetown where the
convoy arrived 17.7.42
ABOSSO,
ADRASTUS, BANFORA, BERGENSFJORD, CUBA, DUCHESS OF RICHMOND, EMPIRE PRIDE,
EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA, ESPERANCE BAY, LEOPOLDVILLE and PALMA entered Capetown
escorted by MALAYA and BLACKMORE. BRILLIANT took the rest of the convoy onward,
being relieved by the cruiser
SHROPSHIRE 17.7, to Durban where it arrived 20.7.
When the
convoy sailed from Capetown 23.7, escorted by the cruiser
GAMBIA, ESPERANCE BAY
remained in port, and BANFORA sailed for passage to Durban only. The Durban
ships (other than AWATEA and EMPRESS OF RUSSIA) made a rendezvous off that port
26.7, and the convoy steamed northward. The cruiser
FROBISHER relieved GAMBIA
30.7, when GAMBIA took STIRLING CASTLE from the convoy bound for Mauritius and
then Australia. The armed merchant cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE joined the convoy
30.7 as an additional escort.
WS 20A
The
convoy divided 1.8.42, all ships except ABOSSO, ADRASTUS, EMPIRE PRIDE and
ORION going to Aden off which port they dispersed on 6.8.42 to proceed to Suez
as independents; escort was provided by
FROBISHER.
WS 20B
ABOSSO,
ADRASTUS, EMPIRE PRIDE and ORION proceeded to Bombay under the escort of
WORCESTERSHIRE later relieved by the cruiser
DEVONSHIRE, to arrive at Bombay
9.8.42.
