Convoy HG 31 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)

Convoy HG 31 Cruising Order
Departed Gibraltar on May 23-1940 and arrived Liverpool on June 2
(Arnold Hague agrees with 22 ships).

Transcribed from several documents received from Tony Cooper, England - His source: Public Records Office, Kew.

Br=British, Norw=Norwegian, Sw=Swedish, Fi=Finnish, Gr=Greek, Po=Polish
† = dead

Captains' names are in parenthesis, above the names is info on armament where known (pdr.=pounder).

11
Botusk
iron ore - esparto grass
Barrow
12 pdr.
(W. A. Davies)
(Br)

21
Newton Ash
iron ore
Barrow
4" & 12 pdr.
(C. C. Clark)
(Br)

31
Raby Castle
general
Liverpool
4"
(J. E. Everall)
(Br)

41
Gogovale
Port Talbot
(Br)

51
City of Windsor
general
London
4"
(T. F. Larey)
(Br)

61
Pencarrow
iron ore
Middlesbrough
4" & 12 pdr.
(P. Bond)
(Br)

71
Orangemoor
iron ore
Tyne Dock
4"
(R. E. Richardson)
(Br)
Sunk - 18†

12
Empire Scout
phosphate
Londonderry
12 pdr.
(N. Ramsay)
(Br)

22
Leonidas Z Cambanis
grain
Liverpool
(N. Falangas)
(Gr)

32
Garonne
benzine
Swansea
(F. Thorsen)
(Norw)

42
Treminnard
iron ore
Cardiff
4"
(D. Hunt)
(Br)

52
Alex
iron ore
Middlesbrough
4" & 12 pdr.
(T. J. Jones)
(Br)

62
Gothland
general
London
1 Lewis
(Capt. Christie)
(Br)

72
Lublin
onions
London
12 pdr. & 1 Lewis
(J. Starballa)
(Po)

13
Vingaland
general
Liverpool
(J. Svensson)
(Sw)

23
Ørnefjell
oranges - general
Liverpool
(S. Andresen)
(Norw)

33
Gunda
ground nuts
Clyde
(R. H. Andersson)
(Sw)

43
Oinas
esparto grass
Bristol
(G. Frostell)
(Fi)

53
Mergus
potatoes
Falmouth f.o./London
(J. M. B. Olsson)
(Sw)

63
~~Ioannis M. Embiricos~~
moved to 24

73
Brandenburg
potatoes
London
1 Lewis
(W. Henderson)
(Br)

24
Ioannis M. Embiricos
wheat
Portland
(M. Gialouris)
(Gr)

34
Devon
esparto grass
Watchet
(S. Ramnas)
(Sw)

Notes:
Commodore (Vice Admiral's name illegible) was in City of Windsor, Vice Commodore was the captain of Raby Castle.
The Commodore considers his ship to be "excellent as Commodore's ship. All officers keen and efficient", and Captain Everall of Raby Castle was a "very good Vice Commodore".

The Convoy had 22 ships; 13 for the West Coast, and 9 for the Downs and Channel ports.

Average speed: 7.25 knots.

The Swedish Devon was not with the convoy at dawn on May 25, not seen again until the afternoon of May 27 ("obviously obeyed instructions in Envelope C. which enabled him to rejoin Convoy 2 days later").
Orangemoor dropped astern with engine trouble at 23:15, May 25 - back in station in the early morning hours of 26th.

In the morning of May 28, an S.O.S. was intercepted from the French warship Enseigne Henry The Commodore considered asking the Swedish Vingaland (speed of 14 knots) to go to her assistance, but meanwhile, 2 other ships closer to the victim were heard to answer the S.O.S.

The B portion, that is, all the ships in columns 1, 2, 3 and 4, except Ioannis M. Embiricos, parted company at 14:39 on May 30 in 48 37N 07 35W, escorted by HMS Scarborough.

Orangemoor was sunk on May 31 by U-101. According to "Lloyd's War Losses", Vol. I, she was on a voyage from Bona to Tyne with 8150 tons of iron ore, crew of 40, 18 died, 22 survived. What follows is from the Commodore's notes on the incident:
13:05 - Orangemoor torpedoed 49 45N 03 19W. Hit amidships starboard side, sank within 2 minutes. Ship fitted with D.G. which I had ordered to be switched on. Submarine not sighted. Arabis turned to hunt. Brandenburg, in rear of column, without awaiting orders, stopped and stood by survivors, 22 officers and men were picked up (he says 17 were lost). Brandenburg was back in station at 10:30, June 1.

Alex was despatched to Portland at 18:00 on May 31 in 49 58N 02 23W.

The convoy was dispersed at 13:30 on June 1, after Folkestone gate, and arrived Downs at 14:30, where a pilot was embarked for Southend.

From the Commodore's notes on station keeping & signalling:
Station keeping was "satisfactory", though Pencarrow "not much interested", "poor signaller, station keeper, and generally stupid".
Oinas appeared to have difficulty keeping up, "mainly due to old age".
Raby Castle, Gothland, Lublin, and Ioannis M. Embiricos were good at signalling. Captain Starballa of Lublin "handled his ship boldly. Almost up to warship standard".
"Brandenburg showed courage & initiative in standing by survivors of Orangemoor".

Escorts:
HMS Scarborough from Gibraltar - proceeded with B portion.
HMS Keppel is also mentioned, joined during the night of May 24 and left again in the evening of 24th.
HMS Arabis joined on May 31

Air Escort:
2 aircraft in the Straits of Gibraltar May 23 - until dark.
From 05:00 to noon on May 30.
From dawn to dusk on May 31.
From dawn to Downs on June 1.

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